Wholesale Men's Clothing Suppliers

Core ranges and what sells

Men's wholesale is built largely on staples: t-shirts, shirts, polos, jeans, chinos, knitwear, outerwear and underlayers. These reorder throughout the year, so a supplier that holds stock or repeats production reliably is more useful than one with a constantly changing catalogue. Trend items exist, but men's customers generally return to the same cuts and colours, which lowers the risk of dead stock if you buy basics well.

Fit and size range

Ask which size system the supplier uses and request garment measurements for each style. Shirts are sold by collar size or by letter sizes, trousers by waist and leg length, and the two are not interchangeable. If your customers need big and tall or slim cuts, ask whether the supplier offers them as separate patterns. A supplier who offers only a narrow size band leaves you with gaps in the middle of the curve, which is where most sales happen.

Fabric and construction

Check fibre content, weight and finish. Cotton shirts should be tested for shrinkage and collar stability; denim for colour transfer and stretch recovery; knitwear for pilling and shape retention; outerwear for waterproofing claims, which should be backed by a test result and not a hangtag. Examine button attachment, stitching density, pocket reinforcement and zip quality, which are the usual failure points. Ask for a sample and wash it before placing a bulk order.

Labelling and compliance

Garments need accurate fibre content and care labels, and rules for origin marking differ by country, so check what your market requires. Chemical limits such as REACH apply in the EU to dyes and finishes, and leather or fur content has its own rules. Reflective or flame-retardant claims should come with documentation, and thermal or protective garments may fall under separate regulation.

Seasonality and ordering

Men's ranges follow a warm and cold season, with outerwear and knitwear ordered early. Ask about order deadlines, whether the supplier sells carry-over stock, and whether cartons contain a set size ratio. Fixed ratios reduce unit cost but may not match your customer base.

Margins and risk

Basics hold their price better than fashion items, and returns are driven mostly by sizing. Branded menswear attracts counterfeits and diverted stock, so ask for proof of authorised supply. Count the total landed cost including freight, duty and any labelling or repacking.

Questions to ask

• Can you restock the same style and colour, and how soon?
• Which size system do you use, and can I see the measurements?
• Is the carton a fixed size ratio?
• What are your return and defect terms?